Posts Tagged ‘giuliana rancic’

Fuel up with Foods to Focus by Carina Sohaili

We all have those days where it seems impossible to focus. Here are some simple foods to add to your daily diet to improve your focus, mood and get you ready to conquer.

  1. Brilliant Blueberries. Blueberries contain specific antioxidants that have been shown to increase oxygen to the brain. Blueberries are also packed with Vitamin-C, Vitamin-E and have incredible cancer fighting benefits. Have a cup of blueberries for a mid-morning snack or throw them in your oatmeal.
  2. Sassy Salmon. Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s have been directly shown to improve your mood, increase your memory and concentration levels. These healthy fats also will reduce your anxiety and stress levels. Not to mention great for your heart health. Have a couple of cut salmon rolls with brown rice for lunch, or go for a delicious steamed salmon entrée.
  3. Wonderful Walnuts. Walnuts have protein, essential fats and B6 – a vitamin that has been shown to increase energy levels. Walnuts also have been shown to increase Serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain which helps you react to stress better. Don’t go too crazy with these nuts; ¼ of a cup is a perfect snack size. They can be a great addition to a salad, or sprinkle some on Greek yogurt for a crunchy munch.
  4. Delicious Dark Chocolate. Indulge in Dark Chocolate for a 3pm pick me up. A great snack size is ¼ of a bar (2-3 small squares.) Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants, and stimulates the release of ‘feel good’ hormones in your brain. The caffeine in dark chocolate will keep you alert without the crash later on.
  5. Cha-Cha Chia it up. Chia seeds are tiny, powerful and nutrient dense. Add a scoop to your AM shake or make a delicious chia seed drink in the afternoon with some almond milk and stevia.

Be selfish and make yourself a priority. Nourish your brain. Once you start fueling your body with the proper nutrition, your focus, concentration and overall productivity will change. Pick one food, incorporate it continuously for a few weeks and see how you feel.

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Snacking Secrets: Curb Cravings and Increase Energy

Heart Healthy Valentine’s Day By Carina Sohaili

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The day of love is fast approaching – here are some tools for your mind and body to celebrate in a heart healthy way.

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Go Dark. Chocolate and the day of love go hand in hand. Do not deprive yourself but instead of name brand milk chocolate opt for some pure dark chocolate. Dark chocolate triggers the release of “feel good” hormones in your brain; the same “feel good” hormones that get released after you do physical activity or when you are falling in love. Dark chocolate also controls your blood sugar levels and is loaded with antioxidants. Antioxidants help protect your body against certain types of cancer, infection and slow down the signs of aging.

Go for Heart Healthy Salmon. Salmon is high in omega-3 fatty acids; a healthy fat that our bodies do not produce on it’s own. Omega-3 fatty acids decrease the risk of heart disease, irregular heartbeats and help lower blood pressure levels. These healthy fats also increase your ability to focus and improve your mood.

Instead of going out to a fancy dinner with your significant other or group of friends plan to cook a meal at home. Home cooked meals are much healthier than eating out and getting comfortable in the kitchen is a great bonding activity. Cooking may seem draining or daunting at first – but just like using a muscle that you have not used, it will get stronger and easier with time. If you are eating out the best way to order salmon is steamed or poached.

Mind. Valentine’s day is a day of love; show yourself and your loved ones how much you truly care by taking a step to make health a priority. Even if it’s a small change, everything counts. If you are feeling alone on Valentine’s Day treat yourself to a delicious healthy home cooked meal, massage or activity that YOU enjoy. Indulge and invest in yourself. Once you start focusing on your own hhealth– mentally and physically, the right people will fill your life. Everything happens for a reason. Trust the process.

Stay tuned for my latest nutrition video on cravings coming out this weekend. Try and make a small positive change in your life this week, everything counts.

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Super Bowl Sunday Solutions! By Carina Sohaili

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Game Day is here! Don’t go crazy and fall off the wagon. Here are some tips so you can actually enjoy Super Bowl Sunday while being healthy. Yes – it is possible!

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Mental Preparation: Do not starve yourself until the Super Bowl party and plan on pigging out. When you are hungry your brain is instantly looking for a quick fix to give you energy and you automatically will be attracted to the worst possible food choices.

Food Choices: Get your protein before you start munching. Usually there is always a platter of sliced meats or shrimp cocktail. Having protein before you start snacking will actually reduce your craving for junk food.

Chips: Healthier options are whole-wheat pita chips, pop chips or air-popped popcorn. Baked chips are better than classic potato chips. Here are some healthy brands without compromising taste: Pop Chips, Beanitos and Corazonas. You can find these at any local grocery store – they are much more nutritious and delicious than your classic potato chips. When selecting baked chip brands look for chips with the least amount of processed ingredients.

Dips: Salsa and hummus are great, delicious, healthy options! Go for these instead of the artichoke dip, ranch or crazy cheese dips. Load up on veggies! Some people just feel like munching; let yourself munch on unlimited amounts of veggies before you go for the chips and dip. Carrot sticks with salsa is one of my favorite combinations.

Beer: Men’s Health did a study on the best tasting light beers, here are the top five picks: Adams Light, Heineken Premium Light, Amstel Light, Kirin Ichiban Light and Bud Light.

Be mindful of your portions. It’s easy to get lost in the game and mindlessly munch on what is directly in front of you. Take a plate and put a reasonable amount on your plate. Remember what you are doing – watching the game and hanging with family or friends, not just consuming crazy amounts of food. Live your life while being healthy!

* Stay tuned for my next nutrition video coming out in a few weeks on how to be a planner, eat more frequently and reduce late cravings!

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Happy 2013: Hangover Remedies

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happy-2013-hangover-remedies-by-carina-sohaili

The New Year is here. NYE is a time for friends, family and celebrating with people you love. If you went slightly crazy on the bubbles, here are some simple tools to get your body back in check so you can have a beautiful January 1, 2013.

  1. Eggs – with the yolk. Egg yolk contains cysteine. Cysteine breaks down the toxin acetaldehyde in your liver, causing your hangover.
  2. Coconut Water. Coconut water is a great source of potassium, calcium and chloride. The electrolytes in coconut water will help your body rehydrate and boost energy levels. Coconut water has more natural electrolytes than any sports drink and is a better option.
  3. Bananas. Alcohol drains your body of potassium. Bananas are packed with potassium, which will assist your body in a faster recovery from the night before.

For everyone with NYE resolutions, do not try and do everything all at once! Strive for progress, not perfection. Have goals but make them realistic and manageable.

Happy 2013!

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Turkey Time Tools By Carina Sohaili

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turkey-time-tools-by-carina-sohaili

Eat normally and don’t skip meals or eat less during the day in anticipation for a huge feast at night. If you do, it will be very hard to tell when you are actually full and you will end up overeating – more than you normally would. Don’t focus on the ‘feast’ focus on family, friends and why you are at your meal – to be around the people you love.

Eat your Turkey first. Turkey is a great protein source, and protein keeps you more satisfied and full for a longer amount of time. It also stabilizes your blood sugar levels which will reduce your desire for seconds and thirds of those sugary sweets. Go for the light meat instead of the dark meat; light meat has less saturated fat (the unhealthy fat) than the dark.

Be real; cook with real cranberries and real pumpkin, not the canned version. Canned cranberries are loaded with overly processed sugar, chemicals and other preservatives.

Most importantly, be grateful for everything in life your life and spread the holiday love. Happy Thanksgiving!

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This Halloween Go Dark: Indulge in Dark Chocolate By Carina Sohaili

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Halloween is a time for friends, family, costumes and candy. Yes, there are delicious healthy choices like apples and nuts but I am always about listening to your body, balance and never depriving yourself. Depriving your body does more damage than good and eventually leads you to overeating then continuing an unhealthy cycle. That being said, if you are going to indulge this holiday go for some dark chocolate! Here are some of the delicious, divine benefits of going dark:

  1. Dark Chocolate increases blood flow to the heart and the brain, improving cognitive function (thought processing).
  1. Candy is normally associated with cavities. Dark chocolate contains Theobromine which hardens your tooth enamel lowering the risk of cavities.
  1. Dark chocolate is high in potassium and copper. Copper and potassium are great for cardiovascular health.
  1. Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants. Eating antioxidant rich foods help protect your body against certain types of cancer, infection as well as help slow down the signs of aging.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

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